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University of Canterbury Engineering Society Inc. (ENSOC)
Encyclopedia
ENSOC is a faculty based student society at the University of Canterbury
in Christchurch
, New Zealand. The Society was established as a medium for scholars to discuss relevant engineering
issues and to fraternize. Nowadays, ENSOC is the largest elective club at the University
and welcomes members from all faculties. ENSOC is run by a student committee elected annually by the university's engineering students. The current 2011 committee has 17 members and is chaired by president Loren Burnett, who is a final year civil engineering student.
ENSOC is an incorporated society
whose constitutional objectives include:
; only being younger than the Christian Union by a couple of months.
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand. The Society was established as a medium for scholars to discuss relevant engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
issues and to fraternize. Nowadays, ENSOC is the largest elective club at the University
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
and welcomes members from all faculties. ENSOC is run by a student committee elected annually by the university's engineering students. The current 2011 committee has 17 members and is chaired by president Loren Burnett, who is a final year civil engineering student.
ENSOC is an incorporated society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
whose constitutional objectives include:
- To hold meetings at which papers may be presented, or addresses given, on engineering or allied subjects.
- To assist members to understand the conduct of meetings, presenting papers, and promote knowledge desirable to practice as a professional engineer.
- To further the cultural, educational, engineering and allied interests of members of the Society in particular and the School of Engineering in general.
History
The Canterbury College Engineering Society was founded by the Engineering School Dean, Professor Robert Julian Scott on May 19, 1897 when the School of Engineering was merely 10 years old. As such, it is one of the oldest surviving student clubs at the University of CanterburyUniversity of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
; only being younger than the Christian Union by a couple of months.
Social Events
ENSOC holds a number of key social events over the academic year.- Barbecues - it is renowned on campus for its once-a-term barbecues
- Back to School Pub Crawl - Held in various guises every year since 1948, the modern event sees participants dress in school uniform and make their way around a number of drinking establishments in central Christchurch over an autumn afternoon.
- The Engineering Ball - the largest Formal BallBall (dance)A ball is a formal dance. The word 'ball' is derived from the Latin word "ballare", meaning 'to dance'; the term also derived into "bailar", which is the Spanish and Portuguese word for dance . In Catalan it is the same word, 'ball', for the dance event.Attendees wear evening attire, which is...
on campus.(and in the world.. well probably). - Undie 500 Car RallyUndie 500 Car RallyThe Undie 500, originally named the Under 500, is an annual student-run car rally between Christchurch and Dunedin, New Zealand with multiple stops at drinking establishments along the way...
- Car decoration procession and pub crawl from ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
to DunedinDunedinDunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
. Cars cost less than NZDNew Zealand dollarThe New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
$500 and must have all registration and inspection certification and be driven by a dedicated sober driver. The 355 km (220 mi) trip usually takes 10 hours to complete. - Hokitika Wildfoods - Annual bus trip from University of Canterbury to Hokitika with 4 buses going in 2008. Students attend Wildfoods all afternoon, stay overnight in Hokitika then head back to UC the next day.
- Fresher Field Trip - First year students are affectionately known as Freshers. To assist in the new arrivals adjusting to engineering life, ENSOC organise an event early in first semester. Annually held in a secret location, the fresher field trip is a great chance for first years to strut their stuff among their peers, watch their new friends attempt to dance, ask that "mate" what his name really is and to get to know your ENSOC committee.
- Traffic Light Party - Annual party held in 'The Foundry'. ENSOC members come to the pub dressed in colours according to their availability i.e. green - single and keen, orange - single and boring, red - not single. There is normally drink specials and live entertainment.
- Quiz Night - Annual quiz night held in Bentleys Bar above The Foundry. It is a themed quiz night with 10 rounds of 10 questions and around 25 teams of 5 members participating.
Sporting Events
ENSOC has a long history of successful sporting exploits.- Marlowe Cup - an InterUniversityFaculty event unique in New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The competition involves a range of sporting pursuits between the UniversityUniversity of CanterburyThe University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
School of Engineering and Otago UniversityUniversity of OtagoThe University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
Surveying Department (previously School of Mines, School of Technology) over a weekend and is held in each city on alternate years. Since its inception in honour of Honorary Life Member Thomas Marlowe in 1955 the backbone of the competition has been a game of rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. - Engineers XV - the oldest rugby team at the UniversityUniversity of CanterburyThe University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, it competes in the local social grade and participates in the annual fixtures representing the School of Engineering (Marlowe Cup, Brockett Cup, Inter-Faculty Cup, Hocken Boot). - Tug-o-war - held on the second to last day of lectures between various years and disciplines of engineering. It occurs across the nearby Okeover Stream (formerly known as "The Ditch").
Academic Activities
- Intermediate Mentoring - ENSOC organise an end of semester coaching series for struggling intermediates. The coaching is typing undertaken by members of the ENSOC Committee and other final year engineering students and capitalises on the positive role model status of its coaches. The activities include assistance with homework, individual "pep-talks", miniature construction activities.
- Student Representation - The ENSOC Chairman along with 5 other members selected by the ENSOC Committee represent student interests at the monthly College of Engineering Faculy meetings. The Chairman is consulted by senior members of the College and Faculty on matters of interest to students and may attend Head of Department meetings on a casual basis.
- The Templin Scroll - a competition to reward the best technical paper presented before the Society. It was instituted by Honorary Life Member J. R. Templin in 1941.
Industry Related Activities
- E3 - ENSOC Engineering Expo - ENSOC in association with the College of Engineering operate a one day event showcasing local, national and international engineering firms keen to recruit new graduates as well as summer interns. The day is beneficial for intermediate students unsure of which stream to select. Firms typically set up a stand in the School of Engineering concourse and can also provide a 20 minute presentation in adjoining lecture rooms with question and answer sessions to finish.
- IPENZIPENZThe Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand is a not-for-profit professional body representing the engineering profession in New Zealand...
Canterbury Branch - ENSOC members are invited to attend the activities of the local IPENZ branch. These usually consist of presentation followed by a social hour and site visits to matters of local engineering interest. The ENSOC Chairman is ex-officio a member of IPENZ Canterbury Branch Committee. - Engineers of NZ - (SENZ) - ENSOC is a foundation member of this fledgling national engineering student body. Since its inception in 2004 ENSOC has provided the majority of attendees and won all its competitions. At the 2007 SENZ national symposium, Kent Pohio became the first ENSOC committee member to be elected as President of SENZ, and also the first Maori President of SENZ.
THE ENSOC Shop
ENSOC operate a stationery shop at arms length from the main organisation. The shop also operates as an information desk for the Society and the School. It has been known to be in operation from before 1960 and is run by a shopkeeper interviewed and selected by the outgoing committee at the end of each year. As shop staff are volunteers prices are close to cost price.Famous Office Bearers
- T R Burt - Secretary 1897 - Founder of the modern Master Trade and PDL Brand
- Robert Julian Scott - President/Patron 1897 - 1922 - Founder of the School of Engineering and cousin of Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon ScottRobert Falcon ScottCaptain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13...